Family of shooting victim files lawsuit against Horry County bars, security company
MYRTLE BEACH, SC September 26 2024 Nearly a year after a deadly shooting claimed the life of 23-year-old Starquan Washington, his estate has filed a wrongful death lawsuit.
On Oct. 18, 2023, Washington was outside of Barfield’s Bar and Grille and Klocker’s Tavern off of Highway 17 bypass when he was shot. Kvon Lawhorn is accused of shooting Washington and another patron.
Washington was taken to an area hospital where he later died.
The lawsuit filed on Wednesday claims that Klocker’s Tavern, Barfield’s Bar and Grille, and Big Beach Bouncers “failed to undertake either individually or on behalf of all Defendants to provide proper security at Barfield’s Bar and Grille and Klocker’s Tavern and the subject premises.”
The lawsuit states that after leaving Barfield’s, Lawhorn was given back his gun that was not allowed inside the bar, and while outside between both establishments “negligently and accidentally shot the Decendent [Washington].”
Washington’s family claims that on the night of the shooting, Big Beach Bouncers provided security for Barfield’s but “did not have proper security in place to help avoid and mitigate incidents like the one involving [Washington].”
Due to prior violent and criminal activities, the lawsuit claims that the bars and security company had a duty to protect its customers and failed to do so.
The estate is suing claiming that up until his death, Washington suffered serious physical, mental, and emotional injuries as well as incurring major medical expenses and loss of income.
Washington’s family requests a jury trial and believes they are entitled to actual and punitive damages for negligence, gross negligence, willful, wanton, and reckless conduct, and wrongful death.
Lawhorn is currently out of jail on home detention and faces involuntary manslaughter charges.
